Associations between masseter and temporal muscle measurements and sarcopenia and nutritional status in older adults

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between temporal muscle thickness (TMT) as well as temporal (TMA) and masseter muscle (MMA) area with nutritional status and sarcopenia in older individuals.

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. A total of 275 participants were evaluated to establish comprehensive geriatric assessment guidelines. Axial T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used for the measurement of TMT, TMA, and MMA. The Mini Nutritional Assessment, European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria, the Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire, and the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) scale were used to assess nutritional status, probable sarcopenia, and loss of appetite and dysphagia, respectively. Comparisons of continuous variables associated with nutritional analysis and sarcopenia were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test. Linear regression analyses were performed using the enter method, and dummy coding was used.

The mean age of participants was 82.4 ± 6.08 years. Overall, 14% were diagnosed as having malnutrition, and 40% patients were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The right TMT, left TMT, TMA, MMA, and mean_TMT values were significantly associated with malnutrition and sarcopenia (p < 0.05). A strong positive correlation was also found between the right TMT, left TMT, mean_TMT, TMA, MMA, and decreased appetite scores, calf and midarm circumference, and dominant hand grip score (p < 0.05), but no significant correlation was found between dysphagia and MRI measurements.

Sarcopenia and malnutrition are associated with a decrease in temporal and masseter muscle area in older patients. There is also a connection between loss of appetite, indicators of decreased muscle strength and mass, and the weakening of the two muscles.